A woman writes a message on the Covid memorial wall in Westminster, London (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)The UK has reported more than 40,000 Covid cases for the third day in a row, and a further 145 deaths.
The Government reported a further 44,932 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases in the UK in Friday’s daily figures.
The figure is just below the 45,066 cases recorded on Thursday - the highest daily figure since July 20.
The Government also said a further 145 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, bringing the UK total to 138,379.
It comes as 43,000 people may have been given wrong negative PCR Covid test results, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.
NHS Test and Trace has suspended testing operations provided by Immensa Health Clinic Ltd at its laboratory in Wolverhampton, following an investigation into reports of people receiving negative PCR test results after they have previously tested positive on a lateral flow.
A negative PCR means people will not have needed to isolate and could potentially have spread the infection to many other people.
The errors relate to test results given to people between September 8 and October 12, mainly in the South West of England, but with some cases in the South East and Wales.
